€4 Billion underspend is repugnant!

Labour’s Cllr Keith Martin denounced the Government’s €4,000,000,000 under-spend in the Boarder Midland and West (BMW) Region from the podium of the 2007 Labour Party Conference which took place last weekend in Wexford.

Cllr Martin was proposing a motion from the Westport Branch, for adoption by the Party, condemning the billions of euros that have been unspent by the Government in the BMW. Addressing the conference delegates Cllr Martin said “in bad times the West suffered because there was no money. It is repugnant that in this time of prosperity that we suffer still” adding that “the figures concerned speak louder than words.”

Cllr Martin concluded that the it was deplorable that billions of euro of funding was being returned unspent while “vital West of Ireland infrastructural projected directly affecting jobs, capital investment and quality of life were being left on the drawing boards.”

Cllr Martin was one of the group of Mayo delegates attending the Labour Party’s annual conference.

The Westport Branch’s motion was part of the composite motion on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs which was adopted by the Labour Party. The motion dealt with the government’s failure to redress the continuing decline of rural communities, especially on the Western seaboard, its failure to invest in the BMW and committed the Labour Party to developing a comprehensive rural policy which would ensure that the Party shook off its ‘urban only’ perception and reaffirmed its relevance in rural life and politics.

The motion was proposed by Cllr Keith Martin on behalf of the Westport Branch and Seconded by the Glenties Branch in Donegal South West.

While at the conference Cllr Martin met with Deputy Jack Wall, Labour’s Spokeperson on Community and Rural Affairs, to discuss the issue of the €4 Billion underpsend as well as community and rural affairs in the Westport area. Cllr Martin will be meeting with Deputy Wall in the New Year to discuss Labour’s policies and initiatives concerning farming, rural communities and investment in the West.

Cllr Martin also met with fellow Mayo man and Labour Party Chief Whip Deputy Emmet Stagg to discuss the Westport Branch’s development and the promtion of the Labour Party in Mayo. Deputy Stagg and Cllr Martin also discussed the local elections which will take place in a little over 18 months time.

During the conference Cllr Martin took part in the AGM of the National Association of Labour Councillors which was addressed by Sentor White and Deputy Ciaran Lynch Spokesperson on Local Government.

The Mayo Delegates also took place in the elections for the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee which oversees, directs and co-ordinates the policies, organisation and affairs and activities of the Party.